Folding Auger Assembly with Angled Lower Portion for Extended Reach
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Solution Overview
Problem
Typical folding augers for farm implements fail to maximize side and forward reach in the operating position, minimize transport size, and often obstruct tractor cabs and limit operator visibility during discharge operations.
Innovation Solution
A farm implement with an auger assembly featuring a receiving auger portion, a lower auger portion angled relative to the vertical plane, and an upper auger portion that pivots between operating and transport positions, allowing increased forward and side reach while maintaining a compact transport size and enhancing operator visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a typical folding auger is used, then the auger can be folded to reduce transport size, but the side and forward reach are not maximized when in operating position
Solution Approach 1:
The auger assembly is divided into multiple segments including a lower auger portion and an upper auger portion that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for different functions - the lower portion provides structural support and initial reach, while the upper portion extends forward reach and can be folded for transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper auger portion is positioned at an angular offset from the lower auger portion, creating a three-dimensional configuration that extends forward reach beyond what a simple linear folding mechanism could achieve. This angular arrangement adds a dimensional component to the reach optimization.
2Ease of operation
If a typical folding auger is used, then the auger can be folded for transport, but the folding motion may not clear the cab of some tractors
Solution Approach 1:
The upper auger portion is designed to be dynamically positionable between an operating position (extended for maximum reach) and a transport position (folded or retracted). This dynamic positioning allows the auger to adapt to different operational requirements including clearing tractor cabs during transport while maintaining extended reach during operation.
3Illumination intensity
If a typical folding auger is used, then the auger can be folded to minimize transport size, but the visibility of the discharge operation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The upper auger portion extends forward in a direction that positions the discharge spout ahead of the tractor cab. This forward extension in the horizontal dimension improves operator visibility of the discharge operation, allowing the operator to see the grain being discharged without being obscured by the tractor cab or the auger structure itself.
Data Source
AI summary
A farm implement includes a frame, a container mounted on the frame, a hitch extending away from a front wall of the container in a first direction, and an auger assembly extending away from the front wall. The auger assembly includes a receiving portion coupled to the container, a lower portion coupled to the receiving portion, an upper portion coupled to the lower portion, a joint assembly coupled to both the upper and lower portions, and a discharge portion coupled to the upper portion. The joint assembly allows the upper portion to pivot about a folding axis between a transport position and an operating position. In the operating position, the lower portion is angled toward the hitch relative to a vertical plane extending transverse to a direction of travel by the farm implement, and the lower portion is angularly offset from the upper portion by a second angle.